Olympic Champ Mo Farah To Run Half Of London For $1.1 Million?

Mo Farah is transitioning from middle- to long-distance running, with the 2014 London Marathon targeted as his first 26.2-mile test. Photo: www.photorun.net

Briton reportedly cuts deal with organizers to complete first half of London Marathon.

A report in London’s Daily Mail suggests that British runner Mo Farah, who won the 5000m and 10,000m gold medals at the 2012 Olympics, will run the first half of next month’s London Marathon.

The reason?

A hefty payday.

The paper reports that Farah would receive a total of about 750,000 British pounds, which equals somewhere in the neighborhood of $1.1 million.

Farah’s long-term running goal is to convert to the marathon distance, and he’s targeted the 2014 London Marathon as his first 26.2-mile test. Running half of the 2013 event is part of his training regimen.

But Farah’s decision to participate is not sitting well with everyone because of the financial reward he’ll receive.

“The British public have come to adore his soft-spoken and humble demeanour, but now he risks ruining his reputation as his participation in only half the race looks like it is all about the money, and that leaves him open to criticism,” sprinter Michael Johnson, a four-time Olympic gold medalist, wrote in a Times of London column.

Added British marathoner Paula Radcliffe: “I find it strange. It’s not what I would have done. Either you find a good half-marathon or you take the plunge and attack the distance and race it. But everybody has different reasons.”

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